Broussonetia in fruit

Push under the canopy of the mulberry, Broussonetia kazinoki, on the edge of the Systematic Beds and you will find these unusual fruits. More....

The unusual tree, Broussonetia kazinoki, is now strung with fuzzy green globes sometimes netted with black fibres, from which juicy orange fruits are emerging, looking gorily like little fingers, complete with immaculately manicured fingernail. The birds and squirrels love them, so they will not be around for long, and resident foxes gobble up what falls to the ground.

The foliage is interesting too (quick before it falls in the recent gales). The leaves are all toothed and with a white, downy underside, but can be ovate or cordate and deeply lobed. This great variability in leaf shape can often be seen even along the same branch.